Copper(I) iodide coordination networks–controlling the placement of (CuI)∞ ladders and chains within two-dimensional sheets

Reaction of copper(I) iodide with a range of bridging bidentate N-donor ligands is reported. CuI reacts with L [L = pyrazine (pyz) 1, 1,2-trans-(4-pyridyl)ethene (bpe) 2, quinoxaline (quin) 3, 4,4′-bipyridyl (4,4′-bipy) 4, pyrimidine (pym) 5, 4,7-phenanthroline (4,7-phen) 6] in MeCN to afford insoluble yellow powders of stoichiometry [(CuI)2(L)]∞ 1–6, respectively. Single crystal structure determinations on compounds 1–3, 5, and 6 confirm constructions based on (CuI)∞ staircase ladders linked by bridging ligands to afford two-dimensional sheets. The separation of the (CuI)∞ ladders can be controlled by simple variation of the length of the ligands. In 5 and 6 the two-dimensional sheets undulate due to the angle between the N-donors of the ligand. [(CuI)(diaz)]∞ 7 (diaz = 2,7-diazapyrene), formed by reaction of CuI with diaz in PhCN and CH2Cl2, has a split-staircase motif for the (CuI)∞ moiety, while [(CuI)(4,4′-bipy)]∞ 8, formed by the reaction of CuI with the ligand in DMSO and CH2Cl2, shows rhomboid dimers of (CuI)2 linked by bridging ligands to give honeycomb sheets that are perpendicularly interpenetrated.